British Cycling confirms elite men’s and women’s team for UCI Road World Championships

British Cycling has today confirmed that Jonathan Tiernan-Locke has withdrawn from the Great Britain team selected for the men’s elite road race at the UCI Road World Championships. He will be replaced by Luke Rowe.

British Cycling has also announced the six riders who will represent Great Britain in the Under 23 men’s race on Friday – they are: Simon Yates, Adam Yates, Jon Dibben, Owain Doull, Joe Perrett and Ali Slater.

British Cycling has today confirmed the elite men and women riders who will represent Great Britain at the forthcoming UCI Road World Championships, taking place in Toscana, Italy, from 22 – 29 September 2013. The U23 men’s team will be confirmed after the Tour of Britain.

This year’s Tour de France winner Chris Froome will lead a strong team which includes Sir Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, Steve Cummings, Josh Edmondson, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe in the men’s road race. In the women’s race, Lizzie Armitstead will be joined by current junior world champion Lucy Garner plus Katie Colclough and Nikki Harris. Emma Pooley has declined her place on the squad to focus on her PhD studies – a decision supported by British Cycling.

Performance Director Sir Dave Brailsford said: “We’ve now been able to make our final selections for both the elite men’s and women’s road races, and I’m pleased with the teams we’ve entered. Both Bradley and Alex have shown great time trial form this season and I know both of the guys are up for this competition. Looking at the men’s road race team, we have real strength and depth in the team, and it’s a real boost for us to have two Tour de France winners in there along with high-calibre support from the likes of Cav, Geraint, Steve and Ian.

"I’m looking forward to seeing what Lizzie can do out on the worlds course given her great form at the minute, and I’m confident that Lucy, Katie and Nikki can give her the support she needs.

"We’ve also confirmed the junior team for the world championships, and they should do well on the back of their successful season, particularly Tao Geoghegan Hart who has impressed with his results in the nations cup.

"We will be able to confirm the U23 men’s team after the Tour of Britain has finished, but I know the squad are keen to round off a fantastic season for the Yates brothers. Overall, the whole team is really looking forward to getting stuck in to the racing out in Italy, and we’ve got some great opportunities across the board.”